Erdoğan: Pope’s Visit to Türkiye Will ‘Strengthen Hope for Global Peace’

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urkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Thursday welcomed Pope Leo XIV to Türkiye, calling the visit “a very important step that strengthens our common ground” at a time of rising regional instability and global tensions. The pope, on his first foreign trip since taking office, will spend four days in Türkiye before heading to Lebanon.

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Ankara earlier in the day and began his visit by paying respects at Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Türkiye. He is scheduled to visit several major cities, including Istanbul and Iznik, historically known as Nicaea, a central location in the early Christian Church.

The visit comes at Erdoğan’s official invitation and underscores Türkiye’s stated commitment to fostering dialogue between the Muslim and Christian worlds.

Erdoğan: Visit offers hope for regional and global peace

Speaking alongside the pope at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdoğan emphasized the symbolic importance of the visit.

“I believe the messages to be delivered from Türkiye with Pope Leo XIV will reach both the Turkish-Islamic world and the Christian world, and will strengthen hope for peace around the globe,” he said.

Erdoğan noted that the timing is critical, pointing to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the Russia-Ukraine war, and rising global polarization. He said the pope’s voice could make a meaningful contribution to diplomatic efforts, especially regarding peace initiatives between Moscow and Kyiv.

Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s identity as a country where multiple faiths have coexisted for centuries.

“Mosques, churches, and synagogues stand side by side in Türkiye,” he said, listing landmark sites such as Istanbul’s Hagia Irene Museum and Neve Shalom Synagogue, Trabzon’s Sumela Monastery, and Van’s Akdamar Museum.

He stressed Türkiye’s record in protecting religious heritage, saying nearly 100 churches, monasteries, and places of worship have been restored since his party came to power in 2002, with five more to reopen by year’s end.

Erdoğan repeated Türkiye’s commitment to equality, stating: “Every one of our citizens, regardless of language, religion, sect, or ethnic background, is a first-class citizen of the Republic of Türkiye. We will not allow even a single person to face discrimination.”

The pope’s planned visit to the Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque was highlighted by Erdoğan as a continuation of efforts to build constructive relations between Muslims and Christians.

Meetings with Turkish officials and religious leaders

Following private and delegation-level talks with Erdoğan, Pope Leo XIV met Safi Arpagus, head of the Diyanet, in a closed-door meeting. He also visited the Vatican Embassy in Ankara.

Erdoğan praised the pope’s strong emphasis on safeguarding the family institution amid social and cultural challenges.
“Regardless of our faith,” he said, “we are all members of one great human family.”

The Turkish president used the occasion to address global intolerance, saying that “intolerance feeds conflict, and conflict feeds division and hatred.” He pointed to rising Islamophobia and xenophobia in the West, describing them as manifestations of a broader cycle of discrimination.

Erdoğan said Türkiye will continue to shoulder regional responsibilities despite “surrounding conflicts, crises, and injustices,” positioning the country as a mediator seeking peace and stability.

‘Our greatest debt to the Palestinian people is justice’

On the ongoing Gaza genocide, Erdoğan delivered one of the strongest messages of the day, saying that humanity’s greatest obligation is “justice” for Palestinians.

He reiterated Türkiye’s support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders and expressed appreciation for Pope Leo XIV’s — and previous popes’ — consistent stance on Palestinian rights.

Erdoğan warned that Israeli military actions throughout Gaza, including attacks on churches and mosques, are destroying historical and religious heritage. Among the damaged sites he mentioned was Gaza’s Holy Family Church, administered by the Catholic Church.

He stressed the importance of preserving the historical status quo in East Jerusalem, calling it “critical” to ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Pope Leo XIV’s trip, which will also take him to symbolic sites such as Istanbul and Iznik (Nicaea), is widely seen as an effort to revive interfaith dialogue and reinforce diplomatic bridges at a moment of global uncertainty.

For Türkiye, the visit provides an opportunity to underscore its role as a meeting point of civilizations and a mediator in multiple international crises.

The pope will continue his engagements in Türkiye through Sunday before departing for Lebanon.

(Source: Anadolu Agency)